Jakarta  - Indonesian stocks dropped

Jakarta - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left Jakarta Thursday for a two-week overseas trip, during which he is to attend a Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Washington, followed by an Asia-Pacific regional summit in Peru.

The first stop for Yudhoyono - who was being accompanied by his wife, Ani Yudhoyono, and a number of cabinet ministers - was to be the United States, where he was to arrive Friday.

Jakarta  - A Thai woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison Wednesday for trying to smuggle 500 grams of cocaine into the country early this year, media reports said.

The West Java Banten's Tanggerang district court found Thitirat Charoensuk, 24, guilty for violating the country's tough anti-narcotic laws.

In addition to handing down a 14-year jail sentence, the court also ordered the defendant to pay a fine of 60 million rupiah (5,330 dollars), chief judge Haryono said in the court ruling, the state-run Antara news agency reported.

In previous court hearings, government prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Thitirat.

Jakarta - A new English-language daily, The Jakarta Globe, was launched in Indonesia Wednesday, bringing readers a second choice after the English news market was dominated by a single publication for more than two decades.

After months of preparation, recruiting of both local and international professionals from the media and business sectors, The Jakarta Globe's publisher expressed confidence that there is still room in the country for a comprehensive daily newspaper in English.

Medan, Indonesia  - Maftuh moans in pain as he writhes on the hot asphalt road and holds his injured leg. Latifah lies beside him, her face covered in blood.

The pair had an accident in chaotic Indonesian road traffic. Their becak, a bicycle with a sidecar for carrying passengers, was rammed by a bus.

But help is in sight: An ambulance appears within minutes. Paramedics emerge to treat the injured and transport them to hospital as bystanders applaud.